Second Cycle

The mission of Second Cycle, a nonprofit organization based in Tacoma, WA, is to demystify and normalize bike riding as a part of daily life while realizing the bicycle as a tool of personal and community empowerment. We do this through our community tool space, through youth bike programs, and by providing an open, supportive, accessible, and inclusive environment. We work to diversify participation in the cycling community and are working toward a world where the joy of riding a bicycle is accessible to everybody. 

Second Cycle was started a little under 11 years ago in a basement garage by a few bike mechanics and bike messengers. We started small and have steadily grown. We have a gritty sensibility and a DIY ethos deeply ingrained in our organizational DNA. We started with just a community tool space in mind and have added a variety of vibrant youth programs. 

We are anchored in the Hilltop community and have been running the shop somewhere in Hilltop for the last 11 years. We have seen a lot of changes in this neighborhood, and we see the changes coming with the light rail and 1500 apartment units to be added in the next five years. That all being said, the organization has been and is on a growth trajectory, and there will be opportunities to grow with it for the right individual.

Our Values:

• Joy for Bikes – We share the love for bikes with everyone. We work and live on our bikes. We share a deep connection with people-powered bicycle transportation. 
• Self-Reliance and Empowerment – We believe that empowering individuals to maintain their bicycles fosters healthy self-reliance and reinforces notions of inherent self-worth. We revere empowerment of all forms, with the knowledge that it builds stronger, healthier, and more resilient communities.
• Diversity | Equity | Inclusivity – We build diverse, equitable, and inclusive communities that seek representation from all voices and reach out to people from marginalized backgrounds. We operate from a place of compassion, kindness, and understanding. We come to this through deep listening.